PINF launches £100,000 Tenacious Journalist Awards

Changing Ideas and the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) today announced the second annual Tenacious Journalist Awards, designed to support UK journalists and small news organisations in producing high-impact journalism.  

Funded by Changing Ideas, recipients of the Tenacious Journalist Awards will receive:  

• A grant of £10,000 to produce public interest journalism.  

• Up to eight months of coaching and mentoring support tailored to their needs. 

• Access to networks including Law for Change, Tenacious Campaigners and the wider Changing Ideas network. 

• Recognition as a leader in independent journalism. 

The Awards may be used to produce new journalism, complete an existing piece of investigative work, or a combination of the two. Awardees will be chosen by a panel of eminent journalists and campaigners. 

To be eligible, applicants must:  

• Be an individual journalist or independent news organisation with a turnover below £2m and no commercial or political affiliations. 

• Be UK-based. 

• Focus primarily on public interest news - that is ethical and impartial journalism that informs and empowers the public. 

• Be seeking support to highlight a social issue and achieve change. 

Applicants should also: 

• Show a history of high-quality, ethical journalism. 

• Demonstrate a proven record of positive social impact in the UK. 

• Have a clear plan for using the award to highlight a social issue and achieve change through public interest journalism. 

Applications are particularly — but not only — welcome where they concern the following issue areas:  

• Corporate accountability 

• Artificial intelligence 

• Online harms 

• Preventable deaths and systemic failings 

And applications are particularly welcome on local issues and from local newsrooms.  

Journalists interested in applying can find out more at https://www.tenaciousawards.org/about-the-journalists-award 

Last year’s nine Tenacious Journalist Award winners tackled issues from opioid use in Tower Hamlets to green energy in Scotland, missing people, miscarriages of justice and the school-to-prison pipeline, prompting policy discussions in Westminster and Holyrood, building coalitions for change and even saving lives. Through peer support and one-to-one coaching, the awardees built their confidence and skills while staying laser focused on the impact of their projects. 

"We believe that every community in the UK deserves high quality public interest news. The Tenacious Journalist Awards help us showcase the very best of this — and the extraordinary public benefit that it can deliver. We're delighted to be launching a second round with the support of Changing Ideas," said Jonathan Heawood, PINF’s Executive Director. 

“Changing Ideas believes in the power of investigative journalism to drive social change. The Tenacious Awards are seeking journalism that uncovers vital issues, drives action, influences decision-makers, and unites communities and campaigners to create real, lasting impact." said David Graham, Founder of Changing Ideas.